Old Guard Annual Meeting

Everyone is invited to a historic program presented by the Fort Larned Old Guard at Fort Larned National Historic Site and the site of the Cheyenne and Sioux Village in Ness County that was captured and burned by the army in 1867.

At 1:00 p.m., at Fort Larned NHS, three speakers will look at the 1867 expedition of General W. S. Hancock and the Cheyenne and Sioux reactions to the burning of their village. Military historian Leo E. Oliva, Woodston, KS, will provide an introduction and overview of the Hancock Expedition. Cheyenne Chief John Sipes, tribal historian, Norman, OK, will address “Cheyenne Reactions.” Sioux Pipebearer and Historian Ken Bordeaux, Lincoln, NE, will talk about “Sioux Reactions.”

The program will then move to the village site where re-enactors portraying Plains Indians and buffalo hunters will make presentations, 3:15-4:45 p.m., and the three speakers will be available to answer questions. This is an opportunity to visit this pristine historic village site.

Evening events will be back at the fort, with a dinner available at 6:00 p.m. ($15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children age 10 and under, reservations required by April 28).

After dinner there will be a short business meeting, an army band concert, and a period dance with a preceptor to provide instructions. These historic dances have been very popular, just as the “hops” were popular with the troops stationed at the frontier post.

There will be living-history activities at Fort Larned throughout the day. A special exhibit, “Crossings of the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas,” will be on display in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters, with a talk about the 31 illustrations by David Clapsaddle at 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.